News & Events

Students recognized at awards dinner

ASL honored its stand-out students at the 13th annual awards dinner, held March 24 at Mountain Mission School. Students were recognized for academics as well as community service efforts.

Service awards

The Sam Weddington Little Red Wagon Award and the Willard Owens Award for Excellence in Community Service honored students who went above and beyond in their service efforts. "ASL encourages students to follow their passion as they perform community service," said Jina Sauls, director of community service at ASL. "In doing so, most students view the service requirement as a release and an act of responsibility, rather than a requirement for graduation."

The Weddington award is given to those who embody the spirit of service at ASL. It is named after the late Sam Weddington, a 2005 ASL graduate who passed away in 2007 from cancer. Recipients "have consistently worked with an unselfish desire to make things better and get things done, not for self-promotion-because they know the true meaning of giving and caring for our fellow human kind," Sauls said. This year, the award went to third-years Eric von Kleist, Penny Mullins Hunter, and John Rogers.

Memorial awards

Special memorial awards honor students who exemplify the spirit and character of Angela Dales, Professor Tom Blackwell, and Dean Anthony Sutin, who died in 2002. Candidates are nominated by faculty, staff, and peers, and are evaluated by the Dales, Blackwell, and Sutin families.

Sauls presented the Angela D. Dales Spirit of ASL Award to first-year Amanda Nobile, second-year Russell Tribble, and third-year John Rogers. Winners show a love of learning and have a drive to persevere and adapt to challenging circumstances.

Dean Wes Shinn presented the Sutin Soul of ASL Award to third-year Elisabeth Griffith "in recognition of three years of leadership on campus ... and of quiet, compassionate support extended to her peers," he said.

Dean's List

Administrators and faculty also awarded students with academic honors. Those included third-year students who were on the Dean's List all semesters: Brad Blanchard, Joshua Evans, Brandi Goad, Penny Mullins Hunter, Jennifer Jones, Noorassa Rahimzadeh, Stephen Shepard, Jason Stegner, and Kevin Sullivan.

Faculty and Staff Awards

Students from each class picked their favorite professors for Faculty of the Year awards. Both first- and second-year students honored Professor Steve Parsons, and third-years picked Associate Dean Sandra McGlothlin. Taylor Burgess was named administrative staffer of the year, and Nicolas Stump was library staffer of the year.